Schriever Space Force Base

Schriever Space Force Base
Name	Schriever Space Force Base
Nearest town	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Country	United States
Type	United States Space Force base
Owner	United States Department of Defense
Controlled by	United States Space Force
Built	1980s
Used	1985–present
Garrison	Schriever Guardian Wing

Contents

Schriever Space Force Base is a United States Space Force installation near Colorado Springs, Colorado that hosts satellite command-and-control, space surveillance, and launch support activities. Established in the 1980s and renamed for General Bernard A. Schriever, the base operates within the Peterson-Schriever Garrison structure and supports national and allied space capabilities. It is a hub for units that coordinate with organizations such as United States Northern Command, United States Strategic Command, National Reconnaissance Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and commercial partners including SpaceX and United Launch Alliance.

History

The installation originated as a 1980s program to consolidate satellite control elements previously dispersed among facilities like Onizuka Air Force Station, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and Los Angeles Air Force Base. Named after Bernard Schriever, a key figure in developing the United States Air Force ballistic missile and space programs, the base grew during the post-Cold War reorganization that included the formation of Air Force Space Command and later the United States Space Force. Notable historical milestones include hosting the transfer of mission sets from Hughes Aircraft Company era ground stations, integration with the Defense Support Program heritage, and participation in exercises with North American Aerospace Defense Command, European Space Agency, and allied partners. The installation has adapted through events such as the September 11 attacks aftermath, the establishment of the Space Operations Command, and modernization initiatives linked to the National Security Space Launch architecture.

The base's primary mission is command and control of military and intelligence satellites and provision of space situational awareness for entities like United States Space Command, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Missile Defense Agency, and tactical users in theater. Resident units include organizations analogous to the 50th Space Wing lineage, elements of the Space Delta 8, and support from the Air Force Civil Engineer Center and Defense Information Systems Agency. The installation hosts mission partners such as the National Reconnaissance Office, Defense Intelligence Agency, United States Northern Command, and commercial operators, facilitating coordination with Allied Space Operations, Five Eyes, and NATO space activities.

Infrastructure includes hardened command centers, satellite control rooms derived from Schriever’s Space Operations Center concepts, telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) antenna fields, and resilient communications tied into the Defense Satellite Communications System and Wideband Global SATCOM. On-site logistics and maintenance support draw from standards used at Hill Air Force Base, Tinker Air Force Base, and Peterson Space Force Base. The installation supports secure enclaves interoperable with Joint Task Force-Space Defense mission systems and data links to the Space Development Agency and National Reconnaissance Office ground segments. Base housing, medical facilities similar to Evans Army Community Hospital models, and education outreach partnerships with United States Air Force Academy and Colorado State University-Pueblo support quality of life.

Operational responsibilities encompass control of communication, navigation, and missile-warning satellites historically associated with programs like Defense Satellite Communications System, Global Positioning System, and Space Based Infrared System. The base integrates space situational awareness sensors, command nodes for constellations, and contingency support for commercial constellations operated by OneWeb, Planet Labs, and Amazon Prime Air-adjacent projects. Exercises and real-world operations coordinate with United States Strategic Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Joint Space Operations Center concepts, and multinational efforts such as Combined Space Operations Center collaborations. The installation also supports research transitions from Air Force Research Laboratory, prototyping initiatives with Defense Innovation Unit, and satellite anomaly resolution in concert with National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission control centers.

The workforce comprises military guardians, civil servants from Department of the Air Force, contractors from firms like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon Technologies, and intelligence community staff from the National Reconnaissance Office and Central Intelligence Agency. Community engagement includes partnerships with El Paso County, City of Colorado Springs, regional economic development councils, and veterans organizations such as Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. Educational outreach, STEM programs, and family support mirror initiatives by the Air Force Aid Society and Blue Star Families. Local workforce housing, transit connections to Interstate 25, and ties to cultural institutions like the United States Air Force Academy cheer squad and Pikes Peak tourism form part of the social fabric.

Environmental management follows protocols from the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Defense environmental stewardship programs, addressing land use, wildlife habitat near Pikes Peak, and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Safety and emergency response coordination involve Federal Emergency Management Agency, El Paso County Sheriff, and fire services modeled after Air Force Civil Engineer Center emergency management guidance. The installation conducts hazardous materials handling, ordnance disposal, and range safety in consultation with Defense Logistics Agency standards and regional conservation groups to mitigate impacts on air quality and water resources shared with Colorado Springs Utilities.

Category:Installations of the United States Space Force Category:Colorado Springs, Colorado